Rutgers women’s soccer announces 2014 schedule

PISCATAWAY – The Rutgers women’s soccer team announced its 2014 schedule Wednesday. The 17-match schedule includes nine games at Yurcak Field.

“I’ve been a college sports fan for a majority of my life and to see the names of the schools that we have the privilege to compete against is a thrill,” said head coach Glenn Crooks. “We look forward to preparing for some of the top programs in perhaps the most prestigious conference in the country.”

Overall, Rutgers will face eight teams – all Big Ten opponents – that qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2013, as well as three squads that ended the season ranked in the final NSCAA/Continental Tire Top 25.

The Scarlet Knights open the season in Piscataway on Friday, Aug. 22, against Stony Brook, Rutgers University’s first intercollegiate competition as a member of the Big Ten.

Prior to kicking off the season on Aug. 22, Rutgers will host two scrimmages at Yurcak Field. The Scarlet Knights will scrimmage former conference foe West Virginia on Aug. 12 and Villanova in on Aug. 16.

Following the season opener vs. Stony Brook, Rutgers will play SEC opponent Vanderbilt for the first time in the history of the two schools. Overall, the match marks the program’s eighth against an SEC school.

Rutgers will remain in Piscataway for its third contest of the year on Friday, Aug. 29, against in-state rival Seton Hall, which the Scarlet Knights last topped 2-0 in 2012. Rutgers hits the road for single-game weekends over the next two weeks, taking on intrastate foe Princeton on Friday, Sept. 5, and Big Ten newcomer Maryland on Friday, Sept. 12, in its first-ever Big Ten Conference match.

The league schedule continues for Rutgers against both “Great Lake State” Big Ten opponents on Friday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 21, when the Scarlet Knights take on Michigan State and Michigan, respectively, at home The Wolverines advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in 2013, dropping a 2-1 decision to No. 1 seed Virginia with a Final Four spot on the line.

Rutgers takes its first full weekend Big Ten road trip to Nebraska (Thursday, Sept. 25) and Iowa (Sunday, Sept. 28) before returning to Yurcak Field on Thursday, Oct. 2, against Indiana and Sunday, Oct. 5, against Purdue. Nebraska, Iowa and Indiana all qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season, as Nebraska and Indiana won their opening-round matchups.

The Scarlet Knights travel to NCAA qualifier Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 11, for the first time since winning, 1-0, on Sept. 6, 2009. Rutgers goes for its third consecutive victory against the Nittany Lions, who Rutgers also topped 2-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 14, 2008, in the Scarlet Knights’ Sweet 16 season.

The squad will play its final two home games of 2014 on Friday, Oct. 17, against Illinois and Sunday, Oct. 19, against Northwestern. Illinois advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2013.

From there Rutgers plays its final three games on the road, traveling to Wisconsin on Friday, Oct. 24, Minnesota on Sunday, Oct. 26, and Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 31, for the season finale. Both Minnesota and Ohio State qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season.

The 2014 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Championship will be held from Nov. 5-9 by Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. The winner will earn an automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Tournament, as Rutgers seeks its third-straight trip to nationals. The first round is set to begin on Friday, Nov. 14, at campus sites.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women’s soccer, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSoccer). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.